Just doing the regular disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, if I did I would be a very rich man

Also, I forgot to mention that none of the Konoha 12 knows Naruto is a demon container yet, just a bit of foreshadowing if u read this.

Chapter 2: Who is she?

(AN: Still in flashback, so everything still in italics)

At The North Gate

While Naruto was having the fight of his life at the Hokage Tower, the rest of the Konoha 12 and the other leaf nin were holding back the oto-nin forces from breaching too far into Konoha. Sakura, being a med-nin, was staying near the rear healing several injured comrades.

"Damn, we truthfully need a lot of more field medics, I'm not sure how much more chakra I can use to hold out."

"Another wave is approaching!" shouted one of the chunnin near the front.

"Crud, I don't have the stamina to heal that many more if they get injured" Sakura thought.

As she was taking a short rest, she began watching her friends who were easily defeating these weaker sound nin.

On top of the wall on the left side, she could see a young kunoichi with some Chinese-style clothing tossing weapons of all kinds into the crowds of invading ninjas. Noticing her use of sharp projectiles and two brown buns of hair on her head, she could easily make that out to be Tenten. Not too far beside her, Sakura could see Shino in his usual stoic stance with bugs being released from several points on his body. Though she thought all the bugs were gross, she had to admit that they were useful in keeping large groups of people under control, exactly what they needed here. Them and a group of chunnin and jounin ninja could be seen trying to keep as many ninja from getting over the wall as they could.

Looking towards the courtyard like opening leading to the North Gate, or more rather where it used to be, she could see all the actual fighting. The first person she was able to notice from the crowd didn't exactly keep his presence a secret. After all, riding on a giant dog into a battle can make you stand out a bit, especially being as loud as Kiba. Sakura saw as Kiba gave Akamaru a food pill, but what she saw next gave her a surprise. When she was expecting two more animalistic copies of Kiba, Sakura instead saw a giant, white, two headed dog maybe twelve to fifteen feet high.

"It looks like Kiba has been improving a lot, even after that loss to Naruto after he challenged him shortly after he came back."

Another figure she saw quickly was pretty hard to see completely, but a giant green blur could be seen by those who knew him well or just had good eyes. The Gai clone Rock Lee could be seen punching several oto-nins, probably breaking their bones. Sakura was just glad that he was on their side.

"If they had a guy who fought like Lee, I would probably be knocked out cold from chakra exhaustion trying to heal all of us."

"MY SPIRIT OF YOUTH WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW FROM THE HEAT OF BATTLE" (AN: If your too retarded or tired to guess right now, that was Lee)

"Then again, any guy who was like Lee would be dead just by being too damn annoying" Sakura thought as a giant sweat drop could be seen on basically everyone.

One other person was able to catch Sakura's attention fast was right now a giant ball rolling down towards another group of fighting sound nin. Chouji's clan, while being seen as a bunch of fatsos by most, were quite useful with their family Justus that used their own big size as a weapon. By Chouji Sakura could see his best friend, Shikamaru, no doubt holding them in place so the giant ball would hit. True, Shikamaru probably had to be one of the laziest ninja she had ever seen, but when it came time to be serious it was a bit scary how serious he could be. Add that to being one of the most brilliant tacticians Konoha had probably seen, and he was deadly once he got into a fight.

Although she could not find her long time rival, Ino, she was probably aiding in the evacuation. After all, besides just working in her family's flower shop, she also taught part time at the academy. Hearing a person that could use mind Justus on people, practically every teacher wanted her to be their aide. After all, being able to use a mind justu on an excessively rowdy bunch kids to calm them down was something teachers would die for.

By the opposite wall on the right side of the gate, Sakura saw most of the Hyuuga Clan keeping up the defenses over there. She could also see two people that were not friends per say, more like acquaintances. One of them, a compact girl with long, dark violet hair, could be seen using their family's style Jyuuken in a slightly different way than the other members, based on her natural flexibility. The girl Hinata was strong in her own sense of determination, but was unusually shy around basically everybody. The other Hyuuga Sakura recognized was not using his Jyuuken differently, mainly just better than the others. It was no wonder he was called the Hyuuga Genius seeing him in comparison to the others.

Seeing the next wave of oto-nin coming up to the gates, Sakura was wondering how they lasted in this battle so well.

"Look at us, an extra young bunch of chunnin, a couple of us jounin, able to fight out a battle that would seem only experienced jounin could handle. Wait a second, I'm sure someone we know is missing. Let's see… we got Tenten, Shino, Kiba, Lee, Chouji, Shikamaru, Hinata, Neji, me, and I'm sure Ino's at the Hokage Monument by now. That's it! Naruto isn't here, o that baka, what could he be doing now more important than this! When I get my hands on him I'll…." Sakura was thinking angrily as she decided to get her friends to help her find him.

"Hey you guys! Where is Naruto!?" Was all she needed to say to garner their attention and look towards her in a questioning look.

"That baka probably just got lost on his way to the battle" Kiba said in a mockingly way.

"Or maybe he might be in an ambush Kiba" Shikamaru said in his patented lazy way as he came over to the now gathering group.

"Do you really think that would happen, it is just Naruto, its not like he's that smart, powerful, or good?" Sakura asked.

"I don't think it would really matter, a dead shinobi is less of a threat than a stupid one" Shikamaru replied.

"Anou, m-maybe we s-s-should go looking for h-him?" Hinata asked softly in her regular shy way.

"Maybe, I mean it looks like everyone else had this place handled" Tenten said.

"He is still just a dumb blonde baka, why all go look for him?" Sakura said with a slight hint of anger. She still had not gotten over the fact Naruto had failed to return Sasuke despite the fact that he promised.

"BECAUSE HE IS A FELLOW LEAF WITH A FLAME OF YOUTH TO MATCH MINE AND GAI-SENSEI AND-"

"Shut up Lee!!!!" Tenten yelled, Neji just settled for a slap on his forehead.

"Anyway I think its decided, we are all going to find the Naruto" Shikamaru said.

"Yea okay" most of them said, Chouji was just eating his chips the whole time.

Right as they were about to start a search, the whole village feels such a huge chakra source, filled with such a potent force of rage and killing intent, the older shinobi think that the Kyuubi finally returned. The Konoha 12 were just frozen in fear, but after a short bit got over their shock, and nonverbally agreed to find the source of such a power. As they reach where the source probably is, they hide in the area of the Hokage Tower to witness something unbelievable.

With Naruto and Sasuke:

"I'm gonna tear you limb from limb, Sauske-teme!" Naruto growled out in his deeper, gravelly voice. "I will not let hurt anybody from this village, even if I have to kill you!" he shouted as the chakra continued to surround his body, giving him the appearance of a fox. Out of the back, two things that could be considered tails sway behind him. The strangest part about his change is his face. His canines have grown, his whisker marks are darker and broader, and his once deep azure eyes are now red with slitted pupils.

"Even with that strange chakra, your still no match against me dobe, especially with my curse seal level two" Sasuke mocked with an air of arrogance around him. Sasuke's hair had grown longer and more spread out, his skin has turned a dark brownish color, a cross shaped scar can be seen above the bridge of his nose, and his eyes have turned a yellow and black. The most notable change is that two appendages appear from his back and take on a wing form. The hiding witnesses (Konoha 12) to this battle are both amazed and afraid of the power these two are displaying, it seems almost inhuman.

Naruto took the first strike, charging towards Sasuke on all fours. As he got closer, he gave a right hook aimed towards his head, with a chakra claw extending the range. Sasuke could barely dodge that even with his Sharingan, nearly getting burned by that chakra claw. Sasuke grabs the attacker's arm, and pulls Naruto a bit closer to give him a knee in the gut, but Naruto uses his other arm to block, then kicks Sasuke in the side sending him into a building so fast it is hardly traced by his comrades watching this.

"When did Naruto get so fast, and what is that strange power?" was on the minds of all the spectators. Sakura as an added thought, was overjoyed seeing Sasuke again, but thought "What is Naruto doing?! Is he trying to kill Sasuke, he said he would bring him back!?"

Sasuke got up quickly, keeping a close eye on Naruto's movements with the Sharingan.

"Hmmm, it appears the dobe has some other power that seems to be on par with the curse seal. I have to make sure this ends quickly" and on that note, begins his charge.

On his way towards Naruto, Sasuke performs the seals for his favorite jutsu, Great Fireball Justu, and launches it towards him. Naruto easily blocks it with his chakra powered arm, but Sasuke appears behind him and delivers a knee into his back, sending him a few feet forward. Turning around, Naruto launches one of his claws into Sasuke's gut but is blocked by his wings. Charging forward, Naruto creates four shadow clones, and trades hits and blocks with Sasuke, both seemingly matched. After the clones disappear, Naruto jumps back, and begins to create a sphere of red chakra in his hand.

Naruto calls out to Sasuke, saying "Let's finish this now, Sasuke-teme!! It's time to die!"

Unfazed by his attack, Sasuke lowers his arm and prepares his own attack, chidori. Instead of a blue color and the sound of chirping birds, however, Sasuke's chidori is a black color accompanied by the sound of birds flapping their wings.

"This face off remind you of anything, dobe?" Sasuke said while building up his attack.

For a couple of seconds, everything around the two demonic fighters is still, the two fighters just staring at each other. Then, as if on a signal, both start charging at each other in speeds the Konoha 12 can barely follow, then both attacks collide, one trying to gain dominance over the other. Pretty soon, there is a huge explosion that damages all of the buildings around them and nearly knocking the spectators away. As the smoke clears, the Konoha 12 can see the silhouette of one of them standing over the other. Soon, it appears to them that Naruto, with the chakra still swirling around him, is covered in wounds probably from the explosion and an injury on his left shoulder. Sasuke, however, is knocked out and they can see the curse seal beginning to dissipate. He appears to have a much deeper wound around the sternum.

"For all the people you hurt for your search for power, for all the people you killed, its time to die Sasuke-teme" Naruto says in a low growl as he pulls back his fist, set to kill.

Sakura, however, tries to stop Naruto, saying "You can't Naruto, you said you would bring him back, you promised you damn liar!"

Hearing hear voice, Naruto's red chakra also begins to dissipate, and soon falls over unconscious from exhaustion. Before the Konoha 12 can investigate the battlefield, the Fanny Bandit (Orochimaru, incase you forgot) arrives onto the scene with his aide Kabuto and inspects Sasuke's body. As Naruto struggles and loses the battle to keep conscious, Orochimaru takes Sasuke and sinks back into the ground, no doubt to go back to Oto to be healed. The last thing Naruto sees before everything goes black is his friends coming around towards him, but with a small hint of fear shown in their eyes.

"Oh shit…" is the last thing Naruto can think of before giving into the darkness.

Hospital

The first thing that Naruto notices when waking up is a bright light and white ceiling.

"Great another trip to the hospital for me" Naruto thinks wearily.

After a couple of minutes, he sees the door open and Tsunade walking into the room.

"Hey Granny Tsunade how're-" is all he can say before getting hit on the head again.

"Quiet brat, this is a hospital, and quit calling me Granny!" Tsunade yells out to him.

"So how long have I been stuck here this time" Naruto asks.

"It's been three days since your fight against Sasuke Naruto" Tsunade replies.

"How did you know about that, nobody was there to see the battle, right?"

"Well Naruto, we have some bad news so don't interrupt. Unfortunately, all of your friends were out looking for you when they found you fighting Sasuke. They also spotted you using the Kyuubi's chakra. They also saw Sasuke transform, but that was explainable due to the Curse Seal. When it came to what happened to you, we had to…"

"You didn't tell them did you Granny Tsunade?" Naruto asks with a mix of fear and shock.

Ignoring the Granny part, Tsunade replied "Unfortunately we did have to or they would go asking around, then people would just panic that you used the Kyuubi's power."

Already having a bad feeling of this, he asks "What was there reaction?"

"Well, a couple of them were surprised but not afraid of you, others just kind of felt confused, but…"

"But what?" he asked nervously.

"Neji made sure to keep Hinata and himself away, and Sakura is blaming you for Sasuke running away, making him jealous with this power and feel he needed more. Plus with all her parents' upbringing of hating you, she is starting to feel the same now that she knows."

At the news of his crush saying that, he felt a great deal of sadness. "She really thinks it's my fault Sasuke left, why does she even care, he's a traitor. The only reason he isn't in the Bingo Book is cause the dumbass Council still think their precious Uchiha will come back. Why him…?"

"Naruto, are you feeling okay?"

"Huh, oh, yea, I just need to go and think."

"Well you're totally fine now, just get dressed and you can leave."

"Thanks Granny Tsunade."

POW

"Ouch, that hurts!"

End Flashback (Man that was a long one):

"So you lost a few friends, who cares?" Kyuubi asked.

"I do you baka-fox! I even lost my love Sakura" Naruto said sadly.

"Kit, quit fooling yourself, it might have been a crush but was definitely not love."

"Well what do you know about love?"

"This guy can be such a pain" Kyuubi thought. "Okay, what do you like about Sakura?"

"Well, um, she's pretty and smart and ummm…"

"Anything else?" Kyuubi asked smugly.

"Hold on I'm thinking"

"Face it kit, she was pretty and that was basically it. I mean, when did she ever show you any kindness and compassion?"

Thinking back, Naruto remembers all the memories of Team 7 and the academy. He remembers all the harsh words she would say to get him to leave, how she'd swoon over Sasuke all the time, and especially all the punches he would get for the dumbest of things.

"She never did like me at all, she barely tolerated having me around…"

"I guess you're right Kyuubi."

"Am I ever not right Kit?" Kyuubi said rubbing it in. "O, and by the way you have been talking out loud to yourself the whole time" Kyuubi said snickering.

"Damn it Kyuubi why didn't you tell me? What if somebody was listening?"

"This should be fun" "Mainly because it made you look like an idiot" he replied with another snicker.

"Damn fox."

As Naruto was finishing this conversation, his sharpened sense of hearing detected a person coming up to him from the woods behind. Turning around quickly, he took out a kunai getting ready for a battle. What he didn't expect to see was a girl around his age appearing from the forest. She had long, wavy red hair that blended into an orange and yellow color near the end towards her lower back. She had a toned and lean body suggests she has at least acquired some ninja training. Some of her hair was covering her eyes, though it seemed they were hardly opened anyway. Her clothes were a bit torn and it appeared that she was traveling in that way for at least a few days. She was bleeding from several wounds all around her body, and she seemed completely exhausted.

She took one look towards Naruto, and was able to call out with a weak but soothing voice, "help me" before falling prey to her exhaustion and passing out.

Before she hit the ground though, Naruto was already there and was able to catch her. It didn't take an expert to see she needed to get to the hospital.

Carrying her bridal-style to the hospital, one thought crossed his mind.

"Who is she?"

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